Eliza (Turner) Stewart (1825 - 1901)

Born 2 Jun 1825 in Waycross, Ware, Georgia, United States

Wife of Jonathan Clay Stewart — married 11 Sep 1846 in Marion, Florida, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Nov 1901 at age 76 in Grahamville, Marion, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jon Pohlers [send private message]

Biography

Eliza (Turner) Stewart was a pioneer of Florida..

Eliza Turner was born on 2 June 1825 to Olive Herrin and Moses Turner in Waycross, Ware, Georgia.^[1]

Eliza Turner married Jonathan Clay Stewart on September 11, 1846, in Marion County, Florida.^[2][3]

Their brood:

• Samuel Asa Stewart Sam 1847–1914
• Mary Jane Stewart 1848–1907
• Martha Ann Stewart Mattie or Babe 1850–1915
• John Levi Stewart 1851–1921
• Eliza Caroline Stewart Carrie 1854–1914
• Lenora Olivia Stewart 1855–1909
• Malinda Ellen Stewart 1855–1908
• Lacey Florence Stewart 1859–1924^[4].

In 1850, there was only Jonathan, 25, Eliza, 25, Sam, 3, Mary 2, and Martha, newborn, living in D3, Marion, FL. Jonathan was farming.^[5]

The extended Stewart clan moved to Clay Springs, FL on Christmas Day 1853 with his wife, Eliza, and kids after John Levi, helping settle Orange County under the Armed Occupation Act. The property there is now known as Wekiva Springs.^[6]

In 1860, Jonathan C Stewart took his own census on 13 July 1860. He listed himself as a farmer and sheriff. They were in D3, Florida using the Mellonville Post Office, were dwelling 132, family 122. Jonathan 35, Elizer, 34, Samuel Asa, 12, Mary Jane 11, Martha Ann, 10, John Levi, 9, Leononia Olivia, 7, Eliza Carolina, 6, Malinda Ellen, 11/12. There was farm hand Thomas J Sowell, 26, and teacher Wesley Summess, 26, in the home. The real estate in 1860 was worth $1,000 and the personal estate was worth $1,200.^[7]

They homesteaded 220 acreas and reared their 8 of their 10 children in what became the Town of Apopka City. The land in the 2020s is boardered by Mason Street to south, Thompson Road to east, Christiana to the west, and Lake McCoy to the north.^[8]

During and after the war, Eliza picked up the pieces as best she could and reared her eight children (aged 3-17) despite the hardships of the postwar era. She ultimately subdivided the homestead into parcels to provide a livelihood for her children and their families. She and the children became successful citrus growers until the Great Freeze of 1894-95. Her last real estate transaction was to sell her homestead to a grandson six weeks before the freeze. Afterwards, Eliza moved to Marion County to live with her daughter.^[9]

In 1870, Eliza was 45, Martha 20, John 18, Carolina 16, Ellen 14, and Lacey 11 were in the house home valued at $2,000. the personal estate was now worth $700. Remember the War Between the States had devalued the estate and caused Eliza to sell off much of the property to keep the family fed while Jonathan was away and war and after he died. Eliza was 'keeping house' and the children were not listed as being employed.^[10]

Eliza was discharged of the administration of the will of Jonathan by John McGee in Orange County, FL on 12 June 1871.^[11]

We see that on the 30th of June 1885 Eliza was 60 living with 25 year old Lacey F Simmons and 3 year old granson Mays Simmons in district 11 Orange County, Florida. Eliza was an orange grower. She was living nextdoor to J. C. and his family. ^[12]

Death and Burial

Eliza died on 5 Nov 1901 in Marion County, Florida, USA.

She was buried in Waldena Cemetery, Lake Waldena, Marion County, Florida, USA.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #2296553
2. ↑ Florida, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1822-1850
3. ↑ State Archive, Tallahassee and Clerk of Courts; Various Counties; County Marriages, 1844-1872
4. ↑ Records at the Museum of the Apopkans by the Apopka Historical Society Pirkle-96 and 1860 US census
5. ↑ National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: District 3, Marion, Florida; Roll: 59; Page: 134a Pirkle-96
6. ↑ anscestrial and historical research by descendant Hooper-9686
7. ↑ 1860 census National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: District 3, Orange, Florida; Roll: M653_109; Page: 553; Pirkle-96
8. ↑ Hooper-9686
9. ↑ Hooper-9686
10. ↑ 1870; Census Place: Division 17, Orange, Florida; Roll: M593_133; Page: 447B, Division 17
11. ↑ Probate Packets, Approx. 1869-1897; Author: Florida. County Judge's Court (Orange County); Probate Place: Orange, Florida. Probate Packets, File No· 145-166
12. ↑ Schedules of the Florida State Census of 1885; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M845, 13 Rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington D.C.Third census of the state of Florida, 1867; (Microfilm series S 1375, 1 reel); Record Group 001021; State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
13. ↑ FindAGrave